D.C. Wire: February 15, 2009 - February 21, 2009

Hamil R. Harris reports from this morning's news conference at Howard University Hospital, that Marion Barry's kidney donor is Kim Dickens, a District resident who the former mayor has known for more than a decade....

Marion Barry's kidney transplant was successfully completed, according to doctors at Howard University Hospital. Doctors are holding a news conference about the former mayor's condition at 10 a.m. today. Barry had planned to attend that news conference, but that may be unlikely as he continues his recovery....

Former D.C. Council member William Lightfoot is planning to sue the city on behalf of a family who say their son died unnecessarily after EMS workers misdiagnosed his chest pains and breathing problems. Edward Givens, 39, died of a heart attack, the coroner has ruled. EMS workers told Givens that...

D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) said he hopes colleague Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), scheduled to have a kidney transplant today, has a speedy recovery. "Councilmember Barry and I have close, personal relationship," he said in a news release. "He has been a family friend for many years."...

D.C. Council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) joined the outpouring of support for colleague Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), who is scheduled to undergo a kidney transplant this afternoon. "My family and I would like to wish Councilmember Barry well in surgery and a quick recovery," he said. "We should...

As Hamil R. Harris and Nikita Stewart reported in this morning's Washington Post, Councilmember Marion Barry is having a kidney transplant this afternoon. Doctors have said the operation has become fairly routine over the years, and Barry is optimistic enough to have scheduled a news conference for Saturday. D.C. Council...

It's 10 p.m., does the District know where its jail inmates are? Right now there's a city law that says jail inmates can't be released between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Attorney General Peter J. Nickles let it be known this week that he wants it repealed. He told Council...

Our colleague J. Freedom du Lac broke the news on his Post Rock blog today and D.C. Wire has confirmed: The first concert at Nationals Park will be a Billy Joel-Elton John double billing, sources said. The particulars will be announced at a news conference Monday by the Nationals ownership...

In today's Post, Petula Dvorak took a look at a group of people who -- masterminded by Audri Scott Williams, 53, once a dean at the former Charles County Community College in La Plata -- have been walking around the world since October 2005. They were in Washington, D.C., yesterday....

Barry has blamed his failure to file tax returns on his health woes. (Gerald Martineau/Post) D.C. Council member Marion Barry will undergo a kidney transplant tomorrow. "He was admitted to Howard University Hospital this morning, and his surgery is scheduled for Friday," said Bernadette Tolson, Barry's chief of staff. Dr....

Rutha Harris, one of the original members of the Freedom Singers, will be on a panel tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Washington Post, along with several of the newspaper's reporters. Click PNC WASH POST BHM INVITE FEB 2009.PDF for more details....

The Washington Teachers Union says it is taking to the airwaves this week to promote what it calls the "bold and progressive" proposed contract it submitted earlier this month to D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee. The radio spots will be accompanied by a new website. "We know we...

Plenty of council members have signed on to join D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) to rid the city of plastic bags by imposing a five-cent fee on plastic and paper bags at grocery stores and other places where food is sold. Yesterday, he introduced the legislation aimed at...

Victor MacFarlane might be looking for a new home for D.C. United in Prince George's County, but he's trying to sell the ritzy penthouse he bought above the St. Regis in San Francisco. Asking price:$49 million. That's a lot, you say? Well, it's down from the $70 million he was...

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) is once again proposing a bill that would prevent two or more people from gathering in "hot spots," areas known for criminal activity. Graham said at today's Committee of the Whole meeting that he proposed similar anti-loitering legislation in July 2005 and in...

We told you last week about Mayor Fenty entering a 12-person team in the 200-mile American Odyssey Relay race from Gettysburg to Washington in late April. Here are the members of the mayor's Fleet Feet AOAT team, according to the event publicist: 1. The Honorable Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor of...